Page:A History and Defence of Magna Charta.djvu/15

Rh. It was natural, therefore, for the towns, who formerly depended for protection on the lords of whom they held, as ſoon as they were infranchiſed, to be ambitious of acquiring all the rights eſſential to independency. In conſequence of this, as they gained any degree of credit and influence, they inſiſted on the privilege of a deciſive voice in enacting laws and granting ſubſidies.

happy effects of admitting the repreſentatives of cities into the great council of the nation, were ſoon very apparent. An intermediate power between the King and nobles was eſtabliſhed; which, on ſome occaſions, checked the uſurpations of the one, and at other times oppoſed the encroachment of the other. It was not long before theſe new inſtitutions were introduced into England. I. perceiving that the ſureſt method to obtain the crown and ſet aſide the pretenſions of his elder brother, would be to eſtabliſh himſelf in the favour of the people, by procuring them ſuch national benefits, as would make his intereſt that of the public; took every method to alleviate the heavy burthens which had become ſo inſupportable to the lower rank of his ſubjects; he granted, to give liberty a more ſolid and laſting foundation, the outlines of that celebrated Charter which is the ſubject of the